On 8 April, 1921, using a postcard from Pres des Ponts couverts in Strasbourg, Julia writes to her grandmother the Widow Elisa Maria (Verburgh) Loontjens at 19 Place du Marais in Ghent, Belgium. Julia's mother, Elisa was widowed in 1900. Elisa died in 1927. Julia writes: "Dear Grandmother. Your grandchildren are very happy and until now, they have had a nice trip. We have already driven through tunnels, but luckily, openings were provided. (?)... on both ends, as Mariette says. Receive dear Grandmother, the affectionate well intended kisses from Gaiton and from Julia." * Thank you to Sofie, who volunteered to translate this card. And thank you to Timo Van Havere, who added (in the comment below) the translation: "... luckily, openings were pierced on both ends on both ends, as Mariette says" . Yes, Timo, a very delightful way to describe a tunnel! Julia is a niece of Maria Kamiel (Loontjens) Van de Vyvere and a cousin of Jeanine.
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Joseph (born in Tielt, 7 December 1868) was the son of Constantin Vande Vyvere (Tielt, 13 February 1812 - Tielt, 8 February 1875) and Justina Destoop (Aarsele, 10 November 1828 - Tielt, 5 December 1890). Joseph had three sisters, of which two never married (Elisa and Irma). Marie, however, married Henri Loontjens in 1875, the brother of Marie Loontjens.
Until 1914, Joseph lived in Tielt as a merchant. First he moved to Roeselare and in 1919 tot Dendermonde, where he became a banker.
(source: De Roede van Tielt, 1987, p. 86 - online at https://issuu.com/roedevantieltvzw/docs/jg_1987_klein)